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Will Unite With Anyone Serious About Bringing Real Change: Baijayant Panda

The former Odisha MP is considering several options—floating a political party or working with other parties.

Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda. (Source:BloombergQuint)
Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda. (Source:BloombergQuint)

Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda is back from a sabbatical from politics, and he’s mulling floating a political party.

The former member of parliament from Kendrapada, Odisha—who quit the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal seven months ago—said he’s also exploring other options.

The politician said that he will unite with anybody who’s serious about bringing real change to his home state—which in May will simultaneously elect a state government alongside the general election.

Panda’s exit from the BJD triggered speculation about his proximity—and eventual migration—to the Bharatiya Janata Party, but he denied the possibility saying he hasn’t yet joined them.

In a conversation with Bloomberg Quint ahead of the launch of his book, “Lutyen’s Maverick”, Panda spoke about the Narendra Modi government’s performance, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and whether an alliance of opposition parties would make a difference.

Watch the full interview here: